LAKE GEORGE — Four men face federal drug distribution charges in a guns-for-drugs sting that broke open Wednesday in Lake George as part of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation.

A federal criminal complaint alleges that police recorded meetings last month between Jason Santoro, of Mackey Road, Highland, Dutchess County, when he allegedly discussed trading 100 pounds of marijuana for 10 handguns. The meetings took place between Santoro and a confidential informant and an undercover officer, the complaint states.

According to a DEA complaint, Santoro was being recorded as he agreed to provide the informant and the officer with cocaine, ecstasy and two handguns as a "sample" transaction. "Santoro also discussed the fact that he used multiple drivers with lead cars (lookouts) to conduct large transactions," the complaint states.

The other men charged in the case are Robert Awad, Frank Santariga and Josh Callaghan, whose addresses were not available in court records.

On Wednesday at an undisclosed location in Lake George, police and DEA agents were watching as Santoro and the confidential informant met with Awad, Santariga and Callaghan. The complaint indicates Awad took 500 grams of ecstasy and two handguns from the trunk of a car that had been driven to the meeting by Callaghan.

The confidential informant, in return, provided the men with 38 pounds of marijuana.

The four men were immediately arrested. They were scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Albany on Thursday afternoon. Additional details about their case were not immediately available.